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| Delhi joined Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY on 5 April 2025, when the Delhi government signed an MoU with the Union Health Ministry, becoming the 35th state or UT to implement it. Eligible families get ₹5 lakh a year from the central scheme, plus a ₹5 lakh top-up from the Delhi government, for a total of ₹10 lakh per family per year. The scheme was expected to benefit over 6.5 lakh families, about 30 lakh people, plus around 6 lakh senior citizens aged 70 and above, who are covered under Ayushman Vay Vandana regardless of income. Card distribution began on 10 April 2025. Treatment is cashless for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation at empanelled hospitals, with more than 30,000 empanelled hospitals across India. You can check eligibility on the PM-JAY beneficiary portal or the Ayushman app. |
Ayushman Bharat in Delhi: ₹10 Lakh Cover, the 70+ Rule, and What Every Dilliwala Family Should Check
The capital finally joins the club
For years, Ayushman Bharat ran in almost every state except a handful. Delhi was one of the last to join. That changed on 5 April 2025.
And Delhi didn’t just join. It added its own ₹5 lakh on top of the central ₹5 lakh, so eligible families now have up to ₹10 lakh a year.
There’s a second big change too. Every Delhi resident aged 70 or above can get Ayushman Vay Vandana cover, whatever their income.
If you live in Delhi, or your parents do, here’s what that means.
| Juggling your parents’ Vay Vandana card, your office policy and a 10-year-old family floater? Delhi traffic is enough stress. Book a call with us and we’ll sort out how they fit together. Chhole bhature not included. |
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What Ayushman Bharat gives in Delhi
| Who | Cover |
|---|---|
| Eligible PM-JAY families | ₹5 lakh (central) + ₹5 lakh (Delhi top-up) = ₹10 lakh per family per year |
| Residents aged 70+ | Ayushman Vay Vandana cover, regardless of income (check the portal for whether Delhi’s top-up applies) |
- Cashless secondary and tertiary hospitalisation under defined treatment packages.
- 30,000+ empanelled hospitals across India, so you can use it beyond Delhi.
- No premium.
| Already have a private policy? Know Your Policy explains it in plain language: what’s covered, what isn’t and what conditions apply. Then you can see where it overlaps with your Ayushman card. |
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How to get your Ayushman card in Delhi
- Check eligibility on the PM-JAY beneficiary portal (beneficiary.nha.gov.in) or the Ayushman app.
- Keep documents ready. Aadhaar and, for seniors, proof of Delhi residence.
- Complete e-KYC using Aadhaar OTP or biometrics.
- Download your card, or the Vay Vandana card if you’re 70+.
- Use it at an empanelled hospital for covered treatment.
National helpline: 14555.
| Want to check your name or download your card? Go to the official PM-JAY beneficiary portal. It’s quicker than the queue at your local dispensary. |
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| Family in Delhi, Noida and Gurugram? Three states, three schemes. The CoverSure State Health Scheme Calculator lines them up side by side. |
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What Delhi families should know
It isn’t universal. Regular PM-JAY eligibility follows the scheme’s criteria. Many middle-class Delhi families won’t qualify, so check rather than assume.
Seniors have a choice to make. Seniors already covered under CGHS, ECHS or CAPF schemes need to choose between their existing scheme and Ayushman Bharat.
Check the hospital first. Not every Delhi hospital is empanelled. Confirm before a planned admission.
Hospital stays only. Routine OPD isn’t the focus of the scheme.
It’s new in Delhi. Rollout details, such as which hospitals take part, have been evolving since 2025. Check for updates.
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Ayushman Bharat (Delhi) vs a private health plan
Where Ayushman Bharat in Delhi stands out
- ₹10 lakh per family for eligible families, at no cost.
- Cover for every resident aged 70+, regardless of income.
- 30,000+ empanelled hospitals across India.
- No premium, no medical tests.
Where a private plan usually adds more
- Open to everyone, not just eligible families.
- Room choice and comfort, depending on the plan.
- Actual bills paid, subject to terms, rather than package rates.
- Restoration, cumulative bonus and add-ons.
- Tax benefit under Section 80D in the old tax regime (please verify current limits).
For eligible families, Ayushman Bharat is a strong base. For seniors on Vay Vandana, a private plan may still help with room choice and hospitals outside the network.
Where ₹10 lakh still leaves gaps
Meet the Sharmas (a hypothetical eligible family; numbers are illustrative). They live in Shahdara.
| Situation (hypothetical) | Covered? |
|---|---|
| Father’s cardiac surgery at an empanelled hospital, ₹3.5 lakh | Yes |
| Daughter’s planned surgery at a non-empanelled private hospital nearby | No |
| Grandmother’s (age 72) cataract surgery | Yes, via Vay Vandana |
| Regular diabetes check-ups and medicines | Mostly outside the scheme |
For Delhi families, the gaps tend to be about which hospital and what kind of care, not the amount.
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Who is eligible?
- Families eligible under PM-JAY in Delhi. Check on the beneficiary portal or the Ayushman app.
- All Delhi residents aged 70 and above, regardless of income, through Ayushman Vay Vandana.
- Seniors under CGHS, ECHS or CAPF must choose between their existing scheme and Ayushman Bharat.
At a glance
| Detail | Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY (Delhi) |
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| Joined | MoU signed 5 April 2025; cards from 10 April 2025 |
| Cover | ₹5 lakh central + ₹5 lakh Delhi top-up = ₹10 lakh per family per year |
| Reach | Over 6.5 lakh families (about 30 lakh people) plus about 6 lakh seniors aged 70+ |
| Hospitals | 30,000+ empanelled hospitals across India |
| Premium | None |
| Main limitations | Not universal, empanelled hospitals only, hospitalisation focus, choose-one rule for some seniors |
| Helpline | 14555 |
| Official website | beneficiary.nha.gov.in |
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Quick answers (FAQs)
- Is Ayushman Bharat available in Delhi? Yes, since Delhi signed the MoU on 5 April 2025.
- How much cover does it give in Delhi? Up to ₹10 lakh per eligible family per year, including the Delhi top-up.
- Can senior citizens in Delhi get an Ayushman card? Yes. All residents aged 70+ can get Ayushman Vay Vandana cover, regardless of income.
- How do I check eligibility? On the PM-JAY beneficiary portal or the Ayushman app.
- Can I use it outside Delhi? Yes, at empanelled hospitals across India.
- I have CGHS. Can I get Vay Vandana? You’ll need to choose one of the two.
- Is there a premium? No.
- “Hey Google, what’s the Ayushman Bharat helpline?” Call 14555.
| Ayushman handles the hospital. CoverSure handles the paperwork chaos. Download the CoverSure app for one-place policy storage, renewal reminders and SOS alerts. |
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